KildareNet News is the INDEPENDENT internet news service for and about Kildare, located on the County Kildare Community Network. KNN has no affiliations to any network, authority, group, party or other organisation. The service is operated by TELLING TALES LTD. Site best viewed with NETSCAPE browser and with the VERDANA font. All content © Telling Tales Ltd. Phone 045 481090 or 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com SCROLL for CURRENT stories. EARLIER stories and ARCHIVES KNN Special FEATURES Visit our flagship sponsor For audios get free REALPLAYER KNN-KildareNet News was awarded three shamrocks by Doras THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND? ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615 Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

Celebrity turnout to K Club art exhibition STRAFFAN, 4 November 1999: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Hundreds of invited celebrity guests came last night to the special ‘Five Hundred years of Master Painting and Sculpture’ exhibition held at the K Club in Straffan. The exhibition features artists such as Bassano, Rousseau, Canaletto, Belloto, Van Dyck, Degas, Monet, Gaugin, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso. (The favourites of the KNN team were undoubtedly a number of pieces by Boudin.) Irish artists included are Francis Bacon and Jack B Yeates, whose ‘The Wild Ones’ was bought during the summer for an Irish art sale record of £1.2 million. Most of the works are from private collections and have not been exhibited in public for many years. The total value is estimated at somewhere between £60-£100 million. The exhibition will be open to the public Thursday through Sunday 10am-6pm. A donation of £5 per visitor goes to the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art Francis Bacon Studio. The event was mounted by London art dealers Simon Dickinson, David Ker and James Roundell, Faggionato Fine Arts and the Grosvenor Gallery. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Local pastor gets hymn music help from 'rock 'n' roll kid' BRANNOCKSTOWN, 4 November 1999: by Brian Byrne. Brannockstown Baptist clergyman Robert Dunlop has had one of Ireland’s top songwriters help him out with a tune for the pastor’s Millennium hymn, ‘God of All the Years’. The co-winner of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest Charlie McGettigan came up with the music after Pastor Dunlop appealed in The Irish Catholic for someone to ‘write the dots’. “The strange thing about it is that he didn’t physically write the music - it was just all in his head,” Robert said yesterday after the final tape of the composition arrived at The Manse, Brannockstown, with the Drumshanbo big man singing to his own guitar accompaniment. The pastor is not just a nationally-known religious broadcaster and popular local father of his flock, but is also an accomplished poet with several published books of verse to his name. ‘God of All the Years’ reflects on 2000 years passed since the time of Christ and looks forward to a third millennium where God will continue to be ‘there so great and strong/to usher in each fresh morn’. There was a strong response to the appeal in the Irish Catholic, and also from readers of the Church of Ireland Gazette. Anyone interested in the hymn can get details from Pastor Dunlop at 045 483629, 087 2329291 or email rdunlop@oceanfree.net

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

	1993 Suzuki Swift. 62K on clock. Two owners. Price £3,400 including stereo. Immaculate condition. Phone 086 8302470, 045 879187.
NOTE: KNN takes no responsibility for car condition or descriptions. All dealings CAVEAT EMPTOR. Mention KNN when calling.	1967 Classic VW Beetle. Fully restored and undersealed. Porsche wheels (originals available). Beautiful condition - must be seen to be appreciated. Engine perfect. Phone 045 860287.
Fax details to 045 481091 or email (pictures should be in JPEG format and sent as attachments). Ads will be left up for one week unless renewed.	1991 Renault 5 Campus. Pristine condition. Red with sunroof. £1,950 ono. Phone 0502 23571.
For Ireland's best motoring news and reviews, visit MotorWeb	1990 Renault 19 Van. Due for the new National Car Test in March 2000. £900. Phone 086 2633298.

To Advertise on KNN, call 086 8267104, fax 045 481091, or email tellingtales@yahoo.com Advertising rates here

Naas man's war book proving very popular NAAS, 4 November 1999: by Trish Whelan. A book about the experiences of Kildaremen in both world wars has been of great interest to Kildare families both at home and abroad who would have had relations fighting or knew of people who did. Far From the Short Grass is Naas man James Durney’s second book, and the title comes from a poem by a Naas soldier serving in the disastrous landings at Gallipoli, Thomas Doran, in which three men from the short grass died on the first day - Michael Kavanagh or Corban’s Lane, Naas; Joseph Bermingham of Dublin Road, Naas; and Michael Heffernan of Eadestown. Some 23,000 Kildaremen served in WW1 and 567 were killed in action, the first being Patrick Heydon of Athy, a strong recruiting area for the British forces for that war. ‘Far from the Short Grass’ has a list of all men from the county killed in action. It has numerous photographs and a foreword by Kildare military historian Lieut Col Con Costello. £12.99 paperback and £19.99 hardback. Available at most bookshops in the county or direct from the author at cover price plus £3.50 p&p. Orders can be faxed to 879889 or email durneys@gofree.indigo.ie A website dedicated to both of Mr Durney’s books can be accessed at http://gofree.indigo.ie/~durneys/

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

Corporate Magazine Production & Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Painting a vampire in Naas NAAS, 4 November 1999: by Trish Whelan. A childrens book festival which took place all last week in Naas Community Library culminated in the visit of a witch to ‘cast spells, spin scary storywebs, and create fearsome faces’. The festival was part of a Kildarewide initiative currently taking place and included visits from storytellers Patrick Ryan and Danny Carty, as well as cartoonist Dan Young and storyteller/facepainter Libby Trappe from Esmondale. Libby is pictured above with Aaron Canty (6) from Mullacash, with her mother Irene. Libby turned Aaron into a nicely seasonal vampire for the occasion.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Irish Car of the Year contenders paced on Kildare roads NEWBRIDGE, 3 November 1999: by Trish Whelan. Motoring journalists from all over Ireland converged on Keadeen Hotel yesterday for the Irish Motoring Writers Association refresher day in relation to the Semperit Irish Car of the Year Awards. Over 30 new cars are in contention for the award, and the journalists drove various examples around Newbridge and the Curragh in order to refamiliarise themselves with the different models. The motoring scribes, from magazines, internet sites, and local and national newspapers, will trim the contenders down to a short-list of eight this weekend, and the final winner will be announced at a function in Dublin on November 18. Among the more exotic cars gracing County Kildare’s roads yesterday were the Audi TT Coupe, the new VW Beetle (top), and the Jaguar S-Type. At different levels of the more mainstream models were Toyota’s Yaris, all Daewoo cars (the marque only began sales in Ireland last January), Opel’s 7-seater Zafira compact MPV and Mazda's Premacy MPV (above left), and Rover’s 75 saloon (above right). Fiat’s second-generation Punto, launched in Ireland recently at the K Club, was also available in several guises from the basic 1.2-litre entry model to the hot HGT sporty version. The Semperit Irish Car of the Year is organised by the Irish Motoring Writers Association and is considered to be a major accolade by the motor industry in Ireland.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

Free internet access for library users during Netd@ays ATHY, 3 November 1999: by Brian Byrne. Kildare’s Library Service is to provide free internet access in the week of 16-21 November as its contribution to a national initiative Netd@ys. The initiative is a pan-European designed to increase awareness and use of the internet and is being coordinated in Ireland by the Information Society Commission and the National Centre for Techynology and Education. The interent access will be provided in both Athy and Naas libraries and everybody is being encouraged to ‘surf’ the net, send an email, or just become familiar with the service. “We provide internet access in both branches since the beginning of the year and it has been very popular,” says Athy Librarian Josephine Coyne. “We would like to see people becoming more aware of the opportunities afforded by such technology and to help them to become comfortable with it.” Further information available from Athy Community Library 0507 31144 or email athylib@eircom.net or Naas Community Library 045 879111 or email naascommunitylib@eircom.net Pictured above using the internet services at Athy are Brian Whelan, Kings Grove, and Aodhán Holohan, Plewman’s Terrace.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

Ireland's Daily National News

Call for Monasterevin emigrants MONASTEREVIN, 3 November 1999: by Brian Byrne. Emigrants from Monasterevin and district are being asked to contribute to a Christmas Newsletter project in the town. The newsletter editors propose one of the articles be about how such emigrants are planning to spend the crossover into the new millennium. Anyone who would like to contribute to the project should contact project coordinator Martina O’Rourke at Drogheda St, or email her at monnewsletter@tinet.ie

Ireland's Daily National News

County archeologist mooted COUNTY HALL, 3 November 1999: by Trish Whelan. County Kildare should have its own archaeologist, members of the Historic Monuments Advisory Committee told a recent meeting of Kildare County Council. The role of the committee includes works to monuments and liasing with statutory and non-statutory bodies and groups. Past projects include Moone Cross (now in state care) and Church, the 12th century Kilteel church excavation, Tipper Cross, Straffan Church, Carrick Castle and Kilclagh Castle (near Edenderry), Church of Knights Hospitallers, in the National Stud at Kildare (above); Johnstown Church, Killilean Church (near Moone), Calverstown; and Dunfierth Church. Future work includes the completion of Dunfierth Church and the start of conservation works at Confey Church and cemetery (possibly the most important monument in the county, predating Moone Cross). Col Con Costello and Niall Meagher asked that their budget be increased to £20,000 as the completion of Confey Church alone will cost £17,000. The work of the committee was praised by councillor Sean O Fearghail who said the council is priviliged to have such people looking after the history of the county. “And it’s almost an embarrassment to see they’re doing it on a £5-7,000 budget,” he added.

Looking for something?   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

Corporate Magazine Production & Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Naas road works to finish by early December NAAS, 2 November 1999: by Trish Whelan. All emergency works to the street in Naas will have to cease by December 8 in the run up to Christmas and each utility company intending to dig in the town will first have to notify the Gardai as well as local residents associations of their intention to dig in their areas. This news followed discussion on a motion by UDC councillor Mary Glennon seeking a method of coordination between all the services in Naas so that complete disruption of traffic is not caused by roadworks taking place. She said if Eircom, the ESB, An Bord Gais, Kildare County Council and the UDC all coordinated their plans and maintained a good level of information for the public, it might help relieve the current gridlock in the town. Councillor Glennon said five such works had taken place in one week, causing traffic congestion and the linear park at Lakelands, in situ for only a few months, had already been dug up by Eircom. “They should all get their acts together,” she fumed. Town clerk Declan Kirrane said the utility steering committee, established in February 1998 by Kildare County Council to revise procedures for such coordination, had recently been reconvened. “Each utility company has agreed to circulate their programme for the coming year and each will erect their own sign at the work,” he explained. “From now on you will need a licence to dig in this town.”

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

GARDA PATROL ADVICE OF THE WEEK Motorists who use their front or rear foglights while driving in non-foggy conditions are both breaking the law and cousing acute discomfort to oncoming drivers. In addition, the lighting pattern from foglights in normal conditions doers nothing to improve the illumination for the driver using them. Please don't use foglights except in heavy fog.

Correction to CMI report NEWBRIDGE, 1 November 1999: Dear Editor, I am quoted on KildareNet News, 15th October 1999 as saying ‘he was lucky he wasn’t transported’, during the CMI discussion [at the monthly meeting of Newbridge Town Commission]. This is incorrect, as what I said was that ‘WE were lucky WE weren’t transported’, a reference to a censure our local Cumann was subjected to after a TV reception debate some years ago. Conscious of this experience, I did not make any criticism, expressed or implied, at the Town Commission meeting in October. Please rectify this as soon as possible. Colm Feeney, TC Newbridge, Co Kildare. EDITOR’S NOTE: I accept that I misheard Cmmr Feeney during the discussion and incorrectly reported his comment, for which I apologise. The story has been amended in our archives. It is the policy of KNN to rectify any mistakes as soon as they are brought to our attention.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

At the Top End ... DARWIN, AUSTRALIA, 2 November 1999: SPECIAL FEATURE SERIES by Susan Cunningham. We have reached the Top End, as Darwin is known around these parts. After our three-day trek from Cairns it is a relief to be stationary for a week or so. The Northern Territory is the most barren and least populated part of Australia. It seems that maybe this is where the real Australia is. Here the land is left untouched and the wildlife is free to roam its natural habitat. The Northern Territory has a small population and an even more fragile economy. It is not classified as a state and until 1978 was administered by New South Wales and South Australia. The people here are very proud of their territory and take great care of their outback. It seems also that here they try to live side by side with the Aboriginal community. There is a mutual respect between the two I have not seen in many of the other states. For the most part Aboriginals have resigned themselves to a pauper status and ‘European’ Australians seem to think that that is where they belong. Here in the Northern Territory the Europeans have seemed to realise that Aboriginal cultural is worth preserving. Kakadu National Park is about 153km east of Darwin. It is a natural marvel. It stretches 200km south from the coast and 100km from east to west. Much of Kakadu is Aboriginal is Aboriginal land and is leased to the government for use as a national park. It is jointly run by aboriginals - about one third of the rangers are aboriginal. There is an abundance of wildlife as well as some spectacular views and aboriginal rock paintings.It is advised that you do a guided tour as much of the land here is four-wheel-drive. However all tours are very expensive so we opted to go it alone. At the moment we are in the pre-rain season. The heat is very uncomfortable. You can almost set your watch by the storms.They say there are up to ninety electrical storms between September and March. I reckon twice that. They make for unbelievable viewing and also cool the temperature - a bit of a relief, let me tell you. Our camping in Kakadu was cut short because of the pain of the heat. Our trip was nonetheless enjoyable. We finally clicked on day three that all activities could be done in the early morning and from about three in the afternoon.Temperatures at these hours are bearable. Walking through the forest along the riverbank we happened to spot several freshwater crocodiles. These are some of the most amazing creatures you can see and in the wild. Luckily for us they were all on the other side of the river. Although through binoculars they were very very close. After a few spotting you learn a few things - the sight of a shoal of fish darting across the river means that, yes, the ‘king of the river’ is passing through ... give way. We leave Darwin tomorrow to make our way to the very heat of this land. It seems unlikely to me that the east coast and the Northern Territory are part of the same country. They are so different, almost a complete contrast. That however is the appeal of the land. So from the palm trees of the east we dive south to the red, dry dust of central Australia.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

Corporate Magazine Production & Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

New enterprise park is opened by minister for finance ALLENWOOD, 1 November 1999: by Brian Byrne. The Allenwood Enterprise Park which was set up to provide local employment opportunities following the closure of the ESB power station on the site was officially opened by the minister for finance, Charlie McCreevy, last Friday afternoon. The park is owned and operated by Allenwood Community Development Association Ltd (ACDAL) and was established with the aid of a £2m fund provided by the ESB and with the support of Kildare County Enterprise Board and the OAK Partnership. The site was also given by the ESB after the demolition of the power station and includes some 20 acres of land suitable for industrial development on the total of 35 acres. ACDAL actually got onto the site in February of this year, and there are already 14 small business units in place ranging in size from 360/12,000 sq ft. Businesses currently operating from the park include Classic Decks Ltd, stained glass artist Nora Duggan, architect John Cross, learning disability consultants Lifestart, G&M Print Management, laboratory equipment supplier Labplan Ltd, Allenwood Print and Design, Irish CECA, and an office of Kildare County Council’s Roads Department. A third 5,000 sq ft building is currently under construction and will provide a further six units from early next year. According to project manager Ian Donald (pictured top outside the main building), the enterprise requires 30,000 sq ft to be let in order for it to be self-sufficient, and the project is halfway towards that goal already. “We will also be putting in planning applications for a further two buildings by the end of the year,” he added. There are outline plans for up to eight other buildings on the site, to cater for on future client requirements. The progress of the project is a real success story for the local community, which got together to form ACDAL in 1994 to see what could be done to replace the industrial and employment presence of the ESB. The directors of ACDAL are elected by members at the organisation’s AGM. Membership is open to anybody in the locality. “Taking in the nearby communities of Carbury, Lullymore and Choill Dubh, there are about 5,500 homes around us,” Ian Donald told KNN. “But some 72,000 people live within a 12-mile radius of Allenwood, so we are excellently placed to provide a location for businesses that need a wide range of skilled workers. We are also well located between the main Galway and Cork roads, and being just 30 miles from Dublin we are very attractive to enterprises that don’t want either the traffic jams of the costs of locating around the edges of the capital.” ACDAL’s research has shown that 75% of people living around Allenwood work up to 30 miles away, and Ian Donald says these people want to see opportunities closer to hand for the next generation. “What we’re really interested in are small companies of up to 10 people, which will give a diversity of businesses located at the park. Of course, we want to see as many of these as possible being in some kind of manufacturing, and our theory is that when they grow too large for their first premises here, we will be in a position to provide them with a larger one. But the quality of the premises is very important - people these days want well-equipped units, with good backup office services and security. We’ve provided that.” (pictured right is reception supervisor Marie Murphy.) The building currently under construction will be targeted at the food industry, and going on discussions to date, Ian Donald says he pretty well knows which companies will be going in there. “The food industry requires very high specifications from the construction stage, and we have designed the building to provide these standards.” In addition to the enterprise park, ACDAL is also very involved with the local CES scheme, supported the Allenwood Ladies Group, and is engaged in a feasibility study to build a Childcare Centre beside the enterprise park. At the official opening, minister McCreevy said his commitments to business development through initiatives in various tax regimes, as well as expenditure policies aimed at producing ‘sound, long-term benefits’, should ‘help enterprises of all sizes’. Other speakers included ACDAL chairman Michael Fitzpatrick (right), Kildare County Council chairman P J Sheridan, and Barry Hutch of the ESB.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

Caravan owners face jailing move NAAS, 1 November 1999: by Trish Whelan. The owners of 23 caravans illegally parked at Pairc na nOg in Naas face jail this week if they fail to move off the site at St Gabriel’s Place under the terms of a court injunction granted to Naas UDC. The UDC is going to court in Dundalk on Thursday to seek committal orders against the travellers. The remaining caravans include 13 which originally parked on the former tennis court at the children’s playground almost a month ago (above). Up to Bank Holiday Monday, there were almost 50 caravans and acompanying vehicles parked along the banks of the canal, which has been left in a filthy state. Local residents have been up in arms over the matter, which led to disruptions at the monthly meeting of Naas UDC when some people criticised councillors for not listening to their concerns. The site was the scene of a similar problem in April of last year, and promises to secure the area against further incursions were not carried through by the local authority. Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane has confirmed that the authority will be seeking committal of those people failing to abide by the injunction. He is required by law to give them four clear days notice of intent to get the orders, and did so last Wednesday.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

Ireland's Daily National News

To Advertise on KNN, call 086 8267104, fax 045 481091, or email tellingtales@yahoo.com Advertising rates here

Mickey Gordon headstone fund KILCULLEN & NAAS, 1 November 1999: by Brian Byrne. Friends of the late Mickey Gordon of Naas have gathered a fund of more than £3,200 in their campaign to raise a suitable memorial over his grave. But they have been stymied in their wish to put a substantial Celtic Cross on the grave in St Corban’s because of a height restriction on gravestones. “We’re now trying to get a design for a bust of Mickey,” says John Brady of Brannockstown, Kilculen, who led the campaign in 14 pubs around Kildare to raise the money. “It has to be special, because Mickey was a particularly special knight of the roads in Kildare ... and indeed, he travelled all over the country as well.” Whatever money is left after the headstone is made will be donated to Naas Meals on Wheels, which looked after Mickey on many occasions. A novel, but seasonal suggestion was made this week by a Kilcullen friend of the late former cleaner in the town’s cinema. “He had a great interest in horror films, and was actually very scared of vampires,” the friend - who asked to remain anonymous - said. “Perhaps a headstone with an image of a hand holding out a wooden cross might be suitable.” The other suggestion is of Mickey holding a pint of Guinness, which was his best-known pose in O'Connell's White Horse Inn in Kilcullen (above).

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

North Kildare's highest landmark to be illuminated for millennium MAYNOOTH, 1 November 1999: by John Sweeney. Maynooth’s most distinctive landmark is to be illuminated for the millennium by Maynooth Action Strategy. At 273’ high, the spire of St Patrick's College is one of the highest spires in the country and a distinctive symbol of the unique heritage of Maynooth as a centre of outreach known throughout the world. Construction of this neo-Gothic building commenced exactly one hundred years ago in 1899 and it is appropriate that its centenary should be marked in the build up to the Great Jubilee Year. Maynooth Action Strategy propose illuminating the spire as a millennium project symbolising the partnership between the College/University and community in this rapidly growing town. It is a fitting project to mark 2000 years of Christianity with a light which will be visible from several miles around and which will remind countless passing motorists that the town they are passing is a unique place with a rich heritage, two universities and a host of attractions worth visiting. The project entails a number of high pressure narrow beam floodlights controlled by a solar time clock and carefully located to maximise their effectiveness. Work will start shortly. Maynooth Action Strategy has now published a number of documents charting the way ahead for Maynooth and has been involved in a number of significant initiatives to benefit the town. Its Arts Forum has recently formed a new Drama Group while elsewhere a number of projects are now underway. The objective of Maynooth Action Strategy was expressed in its first publication 'Choosing a Future' as: "Building on the town's strengths to create an environment within which the disadvantages of a rapidly growing dormitory town can be overcome and a strong sense of identity and community established." The illumination of the College Spire represents an important step in the improvement of the townscape and in the creation of a strong brand image for Maynooth.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

Welcome for UDC stance ... but ... NAAS, 1 November 1999: Dear Editor, I wish to applaud the Naas UDC in their decision to oppose forthcoming legislation on planning which in current form reduces the length of time a new Development Plan should go out on public display, and which says that objectors to a planning application be charged a fee. The usual objectors to people having a say in how the town is run had THEIR say. I would like to bring the attention of Mr Moore and Mr O’Reilly to the words of county manager Niall Bradley at the General Council of County Councils last Thursday - Mr Bradley spoke of the challenges facing local government which, he said, is ‘all about people’. He said all should work together to make things happen ‘for the people and with the people’ in a positive way. "We all can learn from each other .... nobody has a monopoly on wisdom,” he concluded. Mr O’Niadh (town manager) would do well to learn from this and seek to involve rather than exclude the public who we public servants are supposed to be serving. It was reported that Councillor Pat O’Reilly believed six weeks to be enough time for any plan, saying he ‘didn't see too many people concerning themselves with the development plan - except for a small minority’. It was not said whether he stated this with pride or with sadness. I would hope that sadness was the case. Is it not a terrible indictment of the process of local government that it Mr O’Reilly believes that it is only a minority of people make a contribution to this valuable part of town planning. And now people want to restrict this involvement further. I am one of those people who does make a contribution to county and town development plans. I offer the benefits of my education in science, public administration and my experiences as a user free of charge to public bodies. Others also have their own expertise, and they offer this also. Many of the seniors in local government are from engineering backgrounds with their own expertise and the contributions of our own expertise is of benefit for the public and future generations (not just developers)=20 In the past, as conservation and access officer for the Speliological Union of Ireland (yep I’m a caver), I have contributed to the Clare and Cork county development plans on cave and Karst conservation. These contributions assisted people in seeing how they could develop an area and see opportunities for tourism and regional development without having a detrimental effect on the environment. These contributions have been included in the next stages of the county plans. The Karst document has also been accepted as a reference document by an Bord Pleanala. In the area of waste management I was one of only 37 people in the country who made a submission to the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan. Yes one of only 37 submissions, despite all the protests about incinerators and waste facilities in this country/county, only 37 submissions were made. Of these, only four were from individuals such as myself. I am happy to note that my comments were included. I have also made submissions to the Kildare Waste Management Plan and the Naas Town Plan. In regard to planning laws recently I alerted the town officials to activity that was occurring causing disturbance to residents of the town . The town officials were unaware that such activity required planning permission. I and others do this for such simple motives as wanting to improve the environment and surroundings that our children live and grow up in. Is there something so wrong in this that some members of local government and the public service seek to exclude our voluntary contributions by putting financial and other barriers in our way? Barriers that will facilitate the destruction of the town’s amenities by those who put profit before public good, and facilitate those who put forward amendments to town plans for mercenary reasons. On a public service wage I personally could not afford to continue to contribute in this manner if every submission had to be accompanied by the proposed fees. I have said it before to councillors and I say it again. Please remember that we don’t own this country, we hold it in trust for our future generations. Please do not try to block the efforts of those who strive in their own time to assist public servants and others to ensure the trust is properly invested, so that when the children come of age they will reap the benefits as they take over the management of the trust for the benefit of their own children. John Kavanagh BA (science-genetics) MSc (biotechnology), MA (healthcare management) HDipEd, caver, canoeist, surfer, and walker ... and, most importantly, father of two beautiful girls.

PREVIOUS STORIES: Earlier news of the week, and access to weekly archives, are available here

	by Liam Cahill The seminal account of the Limerick Soviet Available here
				PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie
		NAAS BAPTIST BIBLE CENTRE Everyone is invited to study God's Word, the Bible, with us, Sunday evenings 6.30, 45 Jigginstown Park. We are presently studying the life of Christ. Contact Rev Roger Parrow 045 894771. (Advt.)

LISTEN TO the weekly roundup of Irish views and stories presented by Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan and broadcast from Vancouver on the Celtic Voices programme carried by Canada's largest independent radio network. You can stream it at 56k, or download to listen to later. Changed every Sunday.

PREVIOUS STORIES: Earlier news of the week, and access to weekly archives, are available here

Motoring News	Garda Patrol	Farming Info
Results are here. Coverage is here. Candidates details are here.	Kildare's Wild Geese	Upcoming Service

 

Produced by

PO BOX 106, NAAS, CO KILDARE, IRELAND. All material on these pages © Telling Tales Ltd.

Links must be notified to tellingtales@yahoo.com